John and Alan Lomax Were Pioneers of American Music!

Alan Lomax (1915-2002) is a most significant person in American music, as is his father, John Avery Lomax (1867-1948). All of us who have an interest in American music need to set aside some time to study these two individuals, and take a closer look at what they did to preserve the diversity of music, from all parts of our country. The ‘good news’ is that the Alan Lomax Collection is housed under one roof at the Library of Congress, and is one of the most important collections of ethnographic ephemera ever amassed. And an even better spot of news is that you can sort through some of ‘this stuff’ on the internet.

In 1933 Alan Lomax and his father, John Avery Lomax, went all across the country documenting the music of every day people; you know, simple people just like you and me. They went to prisons, farms, and rural communities throughout the South *(and elsewhere) and collected field recordings, took photographs, and even filmed many of these spontaneous sessions. A few of the highlights, for me at least, are the discovery of Leadbelly (he wrote “Irene”), some reminiscences with “Jelly Roll” Morton, and conversations with Woody Guthrie.

It is good that the Library of Congress has preserved the work of Alan and John Lomax. It is also a bit ironic. For 37 years the FBI harassed Alan on suspicions that he was a communist. They never were able to come up with anything though. It is a testament to his character that he was still productive throughout this ordeal, that plagued him nearly his whole life. We are the beneficiaries of his courage and vision. We have his work preserved.

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